Prospect Talent Score

Probability of Success

History

2009-10: Nick Ebert played for the USHL’s Waterloo Black Hawks following an impressive performance at USA Hockey’s Select 15 Development Camp in July. In 53 games with Waterloo he scored 6 goals with 12 assists and was an even plus/minus with 26 penalty minutes. The Black Hawks reached the playoffs after finishing fourth in the East Division but were swept by eventual Clark Cup champion Green Bay in the first round. In three playoff games Ebert scored 1 goal and was minus-two. He was selected by Mississauga St. Michael’s in the first round (17th overall) of the 2010 OHL Priority Draft.

2010-11: Ebert jumped from the USHL to the OHL – joining the two-time defending Memorial Cup champion Windsor after a trade between the Spitfires and Mississauga St. Michael’s. Playing alongside Ryan Ellis, the OHL’s top scorer amongst defensemen, Ebert had a solid first year. Ebert played 64 games for the Spitfires and was minus-two with 11 goals and 30 assists and had 44 penalty minutes. Windsor finished second in the West Division and advanced to the conference finals. In 18 playoff games Ebert scored 1 goal with 2 assists and was minus-two with 6 penalty minutes.

2011-12: Ebert had an up-and-down season in his second year with Windsor as the Spitfires slipped to fourth in the West and were swept by London in the first round of the playoffs. In 66 games for the Spitfires he scored 6 goals with 33 assists and was minus-two with 58 penalty minutes. In the four game series with the Knights he had 2 assists and was minus-three with 8 penalty minutes. Ranked 70th amongst North American skaters in the Central Scouting mid-term rankings, Ebert was invited to the NHL Draft Combine and slid to 96th in the CSS final rankings, being taken by Los Angeles in the seventh round (211th overall) with the final pick in the 2012 NHL Draft.

2012-13: Ebert made his debut in pro hockey — joining the ECHL’s Ontario Reign following his third OHL season with Windsor. In four regular season games he had 3 assists and was +3 with 2 penalty minutes. The Reign finished first in the Pacific Division and reached the second round in the playoffs. Ebert scored 2 goals with 5 assists and was +2 in 10 playoff games. He was one of three players to appear in all 68 games for Windsor and led Spitfires’ defensemen with 38 points. He scored 11 goals with 27 assists and had 58 penalty minutes and finished with a team-worst -39 plus/minus. The Spitfires missed the OHL playoffs after finishing fifth in the West Division.

2013-14: Ebert had a breakout season in his final season of junior hockey — getting off to a fast start with Windsor before being traded to eventual Memorial Cup runner-up Guelph along Kerby Rychel (Columbus) in December 2013 in the blockbuster trade that helped propel the Storm to the OHL championship. He scored 4 goals with 16 assists in 27 games with Windsor and finished the regular season with 13 goals and 40 assists in 65 games between the two teams. Ebert was a career-best +53 in the regular season with 49 penalty minutes. Guelph finished first in the Midwest Division and rolled through the playoffs, going 16-4 and defeating North Bay in five games in the OHL Finals. Ebert scored 5 goals with 11 assists and was +13 with 8 penalty minutes in 20 OHL playoff games. The Storm won its first three Memorial Cup games before falling to Edmonton, 6-3, in the championship game. Ebert had 5 assists and was +5 in four Memorial Cup games and signed a three-year entry-level contract with Los Angeles in May 2014.

Talent Analysis

Ebert went from being a high profile prospect entering his draft season to being the last player chosen in the 2012 NHL Draft. That experience seemed to ignite him to get the most out of his significant technical ability — he is an outstanding skater and puck mover with a booming slap shot. He seemed to put all of the elements of his game together in his final junior season and looks to be going through the same learning process at the pro level. With several minor league veterans in the lineup for the AHL's Manchester Monarchs ice time has been tough to come by at times. Ebert has steadily adjusted to the faster pace and is gradually learning when to use which of his skills and to make decisions more quickly. His game is still very much a work in progress — and it is not likely Ebert will ever be much more than adequate on the defensive side — but he has shown flashes of his high end potential.

Future

Ebert showed promise at training camp with the Kings before being assigned to AHL affiliate Manchester at the start of the 2014-15 season. In his first year of pro hockey, Ebert has been a healthy scratch at times and has experienced the growing pains not uncommon for a 20-year-old in his first AHL campaign. Long-term his skill set suggests Ebert can be an effective puck-moving defenseman who controls the play with his puck handling and skating ability — and is dangerous on the power play. It will take him time to mature physically and add strength, as well as hone his decision-making process, before he reaches that potential.

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Photo: Kings prospect Colin Miller improved his stock with a standout second season in the AHL. (courtesy of Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire)

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It is crazy what a difference a year can make for a hockey player. Hockey has ebbs and flows game to game, but sometimes year to year, as well. The Los Angeles Kings prospect pool has endured a lot of turnover in the last few seasons. As some old assets have come and gone, new faces have arrived and new players have risen. Read more»

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Photo: Brayden McNabb has received significant ice time with the Kings in 2014-15 and looks to have found a home on the Los Angeles blue line. (courtesy of Harry How/Getty Images)

Without having too many high selections in recent drafts, the Los Angeles Kings have done quite well in growing their pipeline in areas of need. While the graduation of Martin Jones does hurt the goalie pipeline, they continue to stock up on useful centers and defenseman. While the wings might not be top-tier, there are some role players and quality players peppered throughout.

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Photo: Worcester Sharks defenseman and San Jose Sharks prospect Dylan DeMelo led the AHL Sharks in offense in 2013-14 with 24 points in 68 games in his rookie pro season (courtesy of Fred Kfoury/Icon Sportswire)

The Manchester Monarchs were the best team in the AHL‘s Eastern Conference during the 2013-14 regular season, but it was the St. John’s IceCaps who represented the conference in the Calder Cup finals last spring. Read more»

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Tanner Pearson recorded 12 points in 24 playoff games for the Los Angeles Kings en route to a Stanley Cup Championship. (courtesy of Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

The Los Angeles Kings had a number of prospects step up and have statement years in 2013-14, but the Fall 2014 Top 20 list features a number of prospects who are going to be pushed by new challenges. Not only is there a new No. 1 prospect on the list, but nine players of the 20 are going to be potentially looking at their first full year in their respective leagues. The Kings also acquired a few new faces via draft and trade that are a welcomed addition to the list as well as the pipeline. With new surroundings, a big step up for many, and at least a few heading towards graduation, the list could look very different come next summer.